A new study suggests that medical schools can tap into doctors' sense of mission and self-identity to increase the number of primary care physicians in medically underserved areas. Training students in underserved settings during medical school and residency can also improve their likelihood of continuing to serve those populations.
The ARTEMIS mission involves two micro-satellites orbiting the moon, providing a three-dimensional perspective on energetic particle acceleration near the moon's orbit. The mission will also explore the space environment of the moon and its interaction with the solar wind.
NASA has formed a single systems engineering organization for its James Webb Space Telescope, combining Northrop Grumman's expertise with NASA's mission-level decision-making. The new team aims to streamline communication and decision-making, reducing costs and meeting the launch goal with minimal risk.
The CU-Boulder student-built dust counter on NASA's New Horizons mission has reached a distance of 1.67 billion miles from Earth, breaking the record for the most distant working space dust detector. The instrument collected data in agreement with earlier measurements made by NASA's Galileo and Ulysses missions to Jupiter.
The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite is nearly ready for a December delivery to the Curiosity rover on NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Once deployed, SAM will become an automated laboratory, assessing whether Mars ever supported microbial life.
The Solar Probe Plus mission will send a robotic spacecraft to the sun's atmosphere to answer long-standing questions about its outer layers. The probe will measure magnetic and electric properties, helping to understand how solar wind is generated and better comprehend the heliosphere.
The sun uses its solar wind and ultraviolet radiation to strip Mars' atmosphere, making it cold and dry. MAVEN will examine the ways the sun loses the Martian atmosphere and measure hydrogen isotope ratios to discover how much water has been lost to space.
The MAVEN mission aims to investigate how Mars lost its atmosphere and gain insight into the Red Planet's history. The spacecraft will make definitive scientific measurements of present-day atmospheric loss, addressing fundamental science questions.
The Solar Probe Plus mission will explore the sun's corona and solar wind in unprecedented detail. The NRL's Wide-field Imager will provide direct measurements of the plasma and create 3-D images of clouds and shocks.
Scientists have detected gas escaping from Mercury using NASA satellites designed to view the Sun's atmosphere. The STEREO mission has recorded evidence of a 'tail' of emission surrounding the planet, similar to comet-like features observed on Earth and in images taken by the MESSENGER satellite.
Hurricane Karl's powerful thunderstorms featured very high icy cloud tops, while moderate to heavy rainfall was observed from the storm. The GRIP mission gathered valuable data on Karl's rapid intensification, which went from a tropical storm to a Category 3 hurricane overnight into Friday.
NASA has awarded CU-Boulder $6.7 million to design instruments for the Solar Probe Plus mission, which will orbit 22 times closer to the sun than Earth. The team aims to understand how the sun ticks and better forecast radiation environments for future space explorers.
The Solar Probe Plus mission will measure energetic particles in the Sun's corona, providing critical data on acceleration mechanisms and space weather. SwRI-led instruments will help determine the structure and dynamics of the Sun's magnetic field and forecast hazardous space weather.
NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite observed heavy rainfall within Hurricane Earl, with rates exceeding 2 inches per hour. The Global Hawk unmanned aircraft is gathering information about the storm from 60,000 feet high, aiding scientists in understanding rapid intensification.
The Virtual Mission Operations Center (VMOC) enables approved users to request satellite services instantly, prioritized based on operational intent. The system reduces the need for a 'man in the loop', improving satellite utilization and command speed.
CU-Boulder undergraduates and staff successfully decommissioned the Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) after seven years of operation. The team, led by LASP professionals, uploaded commands to burn the remaining fuel and switched off the transmitter, bringing the satellite safely into Earth re-entry.
The discovery of two planets, Kepler 9b and 9c, confirms the first planetary system with more than one planet transiting the same star. The planets, both Saturn-sized gas giants, exhibit orbital resonance and gravitational interaction.
SOFIA's infrared telescope will study the Milky Way's galactic center, detecting heat radiation not visible to human eyes. The mission aims to understand star formation in the presence of a supermassive black hole.
IBEX maps reveal structured and intense interstellar boundary interactions; the spacecraft also collects hydrogen and oxygen from the interstellar medium, shedding light on solar system recycling processes. Recent observations of the Earth's magnetosphere provide new insights into protecting our atmosphere.
NASA's six-week GRIP mission will study the creation and rapid intensification of hurricanes, analyzing factors such as cloud droplet concentrations, air temperature, and wind speed. The mission aims to better understand how tropical storms form and develop into major hurricanes.
NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Satellite data reveals heavy rainfall in northeastern Mexico, with estimated totals exceeding 10 inches in various locations. The satellite imagery also shows the hurricane's well-defined eye containing powerful thunderstorms that dropped extreme amounts of rain as it made landfall.
The Deep Impact spacecraft will fly past Earth for the fifth and last time on its EPOXI mission, changing its orbit to boost speed on its way to comet Hartley 2. The spacecraft's instruments will be used during an extended flyby in November to gather data on the comet.
The Lancet highlights the 10 reasons why women and children are invisible, including a lack of social mission, poor attitudes, inadequate evaluation, and insufficient leadership. The article emphasizes the need for coordination and empowerment to address these issues.
A six-man international crew will undergo a simulated 520-day Mars mission to assess the impact of prolonged isolation on mental health. The study aims to better understand how sleep loss, fatigue, and stress affect performance in long-duration space missions.
The University of Leicester is involved in the ExoMars mission, which aims to characterise the chemical, geological and possible biological environment on Mars. The mission will attempt to gather samples from a depth 1-2m below the surface where they are protected from radiation.
NASA has successfully completed the Mission Critical Design Review (CDR) of its Landsat Data Continuity Mission, paving the way for full-scale fabrication and assembly. The LDCM will extend Landsat's record of Earth's changing landscapes with evolutionary technology improving performance and reliability.
A NASA 3D image reveals a thunderstorm in Cyclone Laila that reached almost 11 miles high. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite provided data to forecasters, helping them predict rainfall and storm behavior.
Zoltan Takacs, a herpetologist and toxinologist, has been named National Geographic Emerging Explorer for 2010. He develops toxin-based drugs from venomous snake toxins, which have the potential to treat various diseases including cancer, circulatory disorders, and autoimmune diseases.
Engineers at Boston University have developed mathematical algorithms that can make nearly optimal decisions under realistic model conditions. This approach automates functions such as task partitioning and re-planning, reducing human supervision needed for UAVs.
Researchers discovered a layer where helium condenses into droplets, allowing neon to dissolve and fall towards the planet's interior. This phenomenon explains the observed lack of neon in Jupiter's upper atmosphere.
Researchers have observed a warm core at the center of the Great Red Spot, with temperatures varying by up to 3 degrees compared to surrounding areas. This temperature difference affects wind velocities and cloud patterns in Jupiter's belts and zones.
A research team at Virginia Tech is perfecting an autonomous helicopter designed to assist in investigating nuclear disasters. The helicopter will carry various payloads to detect radiation levels and map damage, while also having a miniature robot to collect evidence. Plans call for the helicopters to be mission-ready in three years.
A University of Illinois study identified five consumer segments at farmers' markets, including enthusiasts, recreational shoppers, and serious buyers. The research found that each market's personality attracts specific people and can be replicated by changing the location or time of day.
A renowned science educator, Marvin Druger, reflects on his mission to inspire students to enjoy the adventure of learning. His new book, Practical Perspectives on Science Education, offers practical tips, personal reflections, and a passion for making science education meaningful and motivational.
The James Webb Space Telescope's five-layer sunshield has passed its critical design review, certifying its design meets mission requirements. The sunshield will absorb and deflect solar light to keep the telescope operating at cryogenic temperatures.
A University of Colorado at Boulder undergraduate-designed communications satellite, Hermes, has been chosen to launch into orbit in November as part of NASA's Educational Launch of Nanosatellite initiative. The satellite will test a high data-rate communication system, improving capabilities for tiny satellites.
Researchers at the Southwest Research Institute suggest that differences in cometary impacts and melting patterns explain Ganymede and Callisto's distinct surfaces. The study reveals that Ganymede received more intense impacts, leading to deeper melting and a heavier core.
Tropical cyclone Edzani has strengthened due to low wind shear and warm ocean temperatures, with heavy thunderstorms near its center. The storm is expected to continue intensifying over the next two days before hitting cooler waters.
A NASA scientist has added an experiment to the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument, enhancing its ability to analyze large carbon molecules. The experiment aims to preserve information on how organic molecules formed, shedding light on the planet's carbon cycle.
The WUSTL-led MoonRise mission is one of three finalists for a $650 million NASA space science venture. The mission aims to retrieve two pounds of lunar rocks and return them to Earth, providing new insights into the early history of the Earth-Moon system.
The PARASOL satellite has been maneuvered to leave its position within the A-Train constellation, a group of five NASA satellites orbiting the Earth in close proximity. The move will enable data sharing with other satellites while leaving a temporary data gap that will be filled by Glory's launch in 2010.
CU-Boulder is leading a $3.3 million concept study for a lander mission to Venus, aiming to study the planet's surface, climate, and atmosphere. The mission will compare Venus with other terrestrial planets and help understand Earth's fate.
Recent NASA missions suggest conditions necessary for life may exist on the icy satellites of Saturn and Jupiter, particularly Europa and Enceladus. Liquid water beneath their surfaces could harbor life, with tidal forces keeping oceans from freezing up due to eccentric orbits.
A faint star Alcor has been found to have a smaller red dwarf companion, orbiting it every 90 years. The discovery was made using the 'common parallactic motion' technique developed by Project 1640, which measures the movement of nearby stars relative to more distant ones.
The GPM mission will provide uniformly calibrated precipitation measurements globally every 2-4 hours for scientific research and societal applications. The mission builds on the success of TRMM and includes a Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) and a multi-channel GPM Microwave Imager (GMI) to improve precipitation estimates.
The TacSat-4 spacecraft has completed environmental and performance testing, awaiting launch. The mission provides near global coverage of Ultra High Frequency (UHF) channels for communications, data exfiltration, and Blue Force Tracking.
Researchers found ultra-primitive material with higher abundances of presolar grains, indicating a diverse processing of materials in different comets. This discovery allows for comparison of cosmic processes on a microscopic scale four-and-a-half billion years ago.
The launch of SMOS will improve understanding of water transportation around the Earth, leading to more accurate weather forecasts and climate simulations. Global measurements of salinity and soil moisture will also inform predictions of floods, droughts, and future climate changes.
The FASTSAT mission will analyze the Earth's outer atmosphere with three NASA-built instruments: Thermosphere Temperature Imager (TTI), Mini-ME neutral atom imager, and Plasma and Impedence Spectrum Analyzer (PISA). The instruments will provide critical data for global space weather prediction, improving communication and navigation.
The IBEX mission reveals a 'noodle soup' of solar material at the outer fringes of the heliosphere bubble, with an arc-shaped ribbon of high-pressure material. The discovery challenges model predictions and provides key information about the properties of the interstellar cloud.
UNH's Space Science Center played a crucial role in the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) mission, which has provided groundbreaking maps of the boundary between our solar system and the interstellar medium. The mission's data reveals new insights into the interactions between the solar wind and interstellar gas, including the form...
Researchers have successfully predicted a previously unknown cellular mechanism using mathematical modeling of DNA microarray data. This breakthrough brings biologists closer to understanding and controlling the inner workings of cells, similar to NASA's trajectory prediction capabilities.
Scientists aim to detect hydrogen in lunar soil, which may be icy leftovers or accumulated from the solar wind. The LCROSS mission will create a debris cloud near the moon's south pole to observe its behavior.
Researchers are using NASA's DC-8 plane, equipped with laser mapping instruments and other equipment, to study changes in Antarctica's sea ice, glaciers, and ice sheets. The data collected will help scientists better understand how these changes contribute to future sea level rise.
NASA satellites Aqua, Terra, and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) are monitoring Super Typhoon Parma, which has intensified into a Category Four Typhoon. The storm is expected to further intensify prior to landfall on the northeastern coast of Luzon.
A University of Washington Seaglider achieved a record-breaking 9-month, 5-day mission in the Pacific Ocean, covering over 3,050 miles under its own power. The vehicle, propelled by its shape and dive maneuvers, surpassed previous endurance records for autonomous underwater vehicles.
The Gravity and Extreme Magnetism Small Explorer (GEMS) mission, led by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, will measure cosmic X-ray polarization. It aims to detect dozens of sources and provide insights into extreme environments, such as black holes and supernova remnants.
The study provides the first experimental evidence of how individual carbon atoms are added to growing nanotubes. The rotation proceeds in discrete steps, resembling the halting motion of a mechanical clock's second hand, with approximately 24 steps per rotation.
The TDRS project has received approval to proceed with the implementation phase of its mission, enabling NASA to build more spacecraft needed to support missions. The next milestone is a critical design review scheduled for January 2010, which will examine detailed aspects of the TDRS spacecraft and system.
Researchers using NASA's SIERRA aircraft and satellite data to map and measure ice conditions below cloud cover. They found a 74% decline in older ice types since 1988, with only 2% of the Arctic Ocean now covered by these ice types.